All most interesting Raedwulf. We also had our chimney swept frequently to reduce the amount of soot.

However my sister in Scotland didn't do this (she'd had a chimney and fireplace put into her house, but didn't know much about managing wood fires) and one evening her chimney started to roar alarmingly. Flames were coming out the top. She called the fire brigade; they stayed at hand, but said it would burn itself out, which it did fairly quickly, with no damage fortunately.

Our neighbours have several woodsheds, and the most gigantic spiders live in among the logs. They all know I'm terrified of them, but delight in showing me the latest specimen. They love it when I flee screaming from their garden. Pigs!